Although the hashtag campaign has been doing a good job of raising awareness surrounding the 200+ Nigerian girls who were kidnapped from a school almost a month ago, the press that it is generating seems to be fueling the militant group responsible for the kidnappings even more.

Yesterday, Boko Haram (which is loosely translated as ‘Western education is forbidden” or “Western education is sinful”), released a 17-minute video showing less than half of the 264 Nigerian schoolgirls who were kidnapped back in April. In the video, around 100 girls who were taken from a boarding school in the north-east of the country looked stunned and scared, praying and wearing traditional Islamic veils. It is believed that they have been forced to convert to Islam. Boko Haram’s leader Abubakar Shekau has also threatened to sell the remaining girls “at the market” if the government doesn’t comply with his requests, and he claims that as part CONTINUE READING

In March, a Malaysian airliner disappeared without a trace, and continues to make headlines around the world. Last week, Clippers owner Don Sterling sparked similar headlines worldwide after audio leaked of him making very racist comments leaked online. But the story that hasn’t sparked the same amount of headlines has to do with young girls. Hundreds of them, that were abducted in Nigeria. Why has this been swept under the rug?

On April 16, as many as 234 girls, between the ages of 15-18, were kidnapped from their school in Nigeria at gunpoint. Though they haven’t claimed responsibility for the brazen abduction, it’s widely believed that this was all done by an Islamist militant group linked to Al Qaeda called, “Boko Haram.” When loosely translated, the group’s name means “Western Education Is Sinful.” Needless to say, they fiercely oppose any and everything Western, especially the education of women. According to their beliefs, a woman’s place is at home and not in school, learning how to read and write.

Up until recently, there’s been little coverage on the horrific abduction CONTINUE READING

While most of the United States was preparing for this year’s Independence Day celebrations, conservative network Fox News’ Twitter account was allegedly hacked, as it falsely reported on the untimely death of the President. The hacker tweeted that the President was gunned down at a restaurant in Iowa, later succumbing to his injuries, listed as two gunshot wounds.

“@BarackObama has just passed. The President is dead. A sad 4th of July, indeed. President Barack Obama is dead.

@BarackObama has just passed. He was shot twice in the lower pelvic area and in the neck, shooter unknown. Bled out.

@BarackObama shot twice at a Ross’ restaurant in Iowa while campaigning. RIP Obama, best regards to the Obama family. #ObamaDead, it’s a sad 4th of July. RT to support the late president’s CONTINUE READING

If you’re thinking of describing supermodel Naomi’s skin color as ‘chocolate’, think again. Both Naomi and her mother are steaming mad over a Cadbury chocolate advertisement which shows a chocolate bar surrounded by jewels with the saying:

“Move over Naomi, there’s a new diva in town.”

Technically, the ad doesn’t specifically state it is referencing Naomi Campbell, nor does it show Naomi’s face or brand, but the model claims the company has used her name without permission. She doesn’t appreciate being compared to chocolate and claims that the ad is “hurtful” because Cadbury is using the ad as a platform to insult her. She told UK’s The Independent:

“I am shocked. It’s upsetting to be described as chocolate, not just for me, but for all black women and black people. I do not find any humour in this. It is insulting CONTINUE READING

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were spotted throwing back a Guinness yesterday while in the Irish town of Moneygall, the home of the President’s great-great-great grandfather. The photos sparked a bit of outrage in the press with one outlet stating:

Last week the Queen of England politely passed on a pint, but on Monday the President of the United States didn’t. In what the British press called a potential monstrosity, it was said that a single sip of the beer would have caused the Brits complete outrage as it is uncouth to drink in public on tour. Comparing the two dignitaries and their subsequent actions on drinking in front of the cameras goes to show just how different we still are when you compare American to the British. The Brits refrain from public drinking on camera and the American’s raise their glass to get the whole glass in the camera shot.”

Other outlets were more in an uproar that he was chugging down beers in Ireland instead of tending to the tornado disaster in Joplin, MO.

President Obama and Michelle also visited the Royals while in Europe with a stop at the Palace to speak with Prince William and Kate Middleton. Check out the photos below: CONTINUE READING

Damn..it’s just poetry. Or so we thought. Ever since Michelle Obama decided to invite Common to the White House to share some of his poetic justice on poetry night, conservatives have been in an outroar. The most vocal have been Fox News and Sarah Palin who claim that the White House lacked class and decency for inviting someone who has celebrated violence and “cop-killing” in his lyrics.

Last night, Jon Stewart of The Daily Show appeared on Fox News and went head to head with Bill O’Reilly over Common’s appearance. Bill reiterated to Jon the conservative concerns, citing Common’s visit to Cuba to meet black political activist, convicted cop killer and escaped convict Assata Shakur and his support of Mumia Abu Jamal, who was convicted and sentenced to death for killing a police officer. He then pointed out that Common’s recognition of these two individuals is evidence that he “celebrates” their agendas and it gives cause for people to believe that the President agrees with his beliefs. While he goes on to mention the other controversial figures that have been linked to President Obama, Jon reminds him of other non-black musicians such as Bono and Bob Dylan that have had controversial lyrics linked to convicted murders. Jon makes the argument that if conservatives are going to point the finger and bring up the issue, then they should be consistent, and he also began to mention more important causes that the conservatives should be focused on.

Amid controversy and criticism from Fox News and Sarah Palin earlier this week, Common hit the stage last night for the White House Poetry event. Almost as if he was responding to Sarah Palin’s criticism of The White House for inviting someone who has “glorified cop killing”, he delivered a positive and encouraging poem that ended with the line, “For One King’s Dream, He Was Able To Barack Us”.

You’d think conservatives would be somewhere rejoicing over Osama but now they’ve found something else to bitch about!
Socio-conscious rapper Common was recently invited to the White House for a star-studded poetry event hosted by President Obama and Michelle Obama and when conservatives caught wave of the news, they made sure they’re opposition was well known, with Fox News going so far as to call him a “vile rapper.”

New Hampshire Journal: “Some of Common’s poetry could … raise some eyebrows among those who might find cop-killing and racially-tinged or misogynist language beneath the Office of the Presidency.”

Though Fox News has joined forces with the New Hampshire Journal, the Daily Caller and even Sarah Palin to speak out against having Common appear for the poetry event, they were singing a different tune 7 months ago when they interviewed him. They referred to him as a “rap legend,” and even Fox News reporter Jason Robinson asked Common during that interview:

Fox News: “Your music is very positive. And you’re known as the conscious rapper. How important CONTINUE READING